Every year, in the middle of summer, non-residents with cars, motorbikes and mopeds are prohibited from landing on the island of Ustica.
It is therefore not possible to board the ferries to the island north-west of Palermo, with a vehicle in tow, generally in August, if you do not reside in the Municipality of Ustica.
Let’s see the ministerial decree in detail below, with the prohibitions, the precise dates in which it comes into force year by year, the exceptions and the sanctions envisaged.
Book a ferry
Limitation on the influx of motor vehicles for the year 2024 on the island of Ustica
Having seen the art. 8 of the legislative decree 30 April 1992, n. 285, as amended by legislative decree 10 September 1993, n. 360, concerning limitations on influx and road circulation in small islands where declared municipalities of residence or care are located;
Considering that pursuant to the aforementioned article, the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, after having consulted the regions and municipalities concerned, has the power to prohibit, during the months of most intense tourist movement, the influx and circulation of vehicles belonging to people not belonging to the stable population;
Having seen the resolution of the municipal council of Ustica (Palermo) dated 18 January 2024, n. 5, concerning the ban on the influx onto the island of motor vehicles belonging to people who are not part of the population permanently resident in the Municipality of Ustica;
Having seen the note from the Prefecture of Palermo dated 8 February 2024, n. 21727, with which a favorable opinion is expressed for the issuing of the decree in question;
Given the favorable opinion expressed by the Sicilian Region communicated with a note from the Presidency dated 12 March 2024, n. 7862;
Considered appropriate to adopt the requested measure restricting road traffic for the reasons expressed in the aforementioned documents;
decrees the following:
Prohibitions
From 1 August 2024 to 31 August 2024, the influx and circulation on the island of Ustica of motor vehicles belonging to people who are not permanently resident in the municipality of the same name are prohibited.
Exceptions
In the period referred to in the art. 1 the following vehicles are excluded from the ban:
a) public transport vehicles;
b) vehicles transporting perishable goods;
c) vehicles transporting people with disabilities, provided they are equipped with the appropriate mark provided for by the art. 381 of the decree of the President of the Republic 16 December 1992, n. 495 and following
modifications and additions, issued by a competent Italian or foreign authority;
d) vehicles of public bodies responsible for police or public interest services;
e) vehicles belonging to non-resident registered Ustica residents, pursuant to art. 64 of the current municipal statute and recognizable through a special card issued by the Municipality of Ustica;
f) vehicles with foreign license plates, provided they are driven by the owner or a member of the owner’s family, as well as those with Italian license plates, rented at airports by foreign tourists, upon demonstration of the rental contract and the subsidized tourist package;
g) vehicles used for television, cinema or transporting artists and equipment for occasional entertainment performances, for conferences and cultural events, subject to authorization issued from time to time, as necessary, by the Municipality of Ustica;
h) vehicles belonging to people who spend at least seven days on the island and who can demonstrate the duration of the stay through self-certification drawn up pursuant to the decree of the President of the Republic of 28 December 2000, n. 445 and subsequent amendments, which contains the complete data of the vehicle, of the declarant (personal data, address and tax code), as well as those relating to the hotel and/or non-hotel establishments, which must be shown upon request of the control bodies;
i) vehicles belonging to the owners of homes located on the island who, despite not being residents, are registered in the municipal registers of the tax for the disposal of urban solid waste, for the year 2023, to be certified by self-certification, drawn up pursuant to the decree of the President of the Republic 28 December 2000, n. 445, and subsequent amendments, to be shown upon request of the control bodies;
j) vehicles belonging to owners of commercial and/or tourist activities on the island who, despite not being residents, demonstrate that the vehicle is intended for the same activity, subject to authorization issued by the Municipality of Ustica.
During the period of validity of the ban, vehicles for the transport of goods are allowed on the island only on weekdays.
Permissions
The Municipality of Ustica is granted the right, in case of proven and real necessity and urgency, to grant further exceptions to the ban on landing on the island of Ustica.
Sanctions
Anyone who violates the prohibitions referred to in this decree is punished with the administrative sanction of paying a sum from 430 euros to 1,731 euros as provided for by the art. 8, paragraph 2, of the legislative decree of 30 April 1992, n. 285, with the updates referred to in the decree of the Minister of Justice dated 31 December 2020.
Supervision
The Prefect of Palermo is responsible for the execution and systematic and assiduous supervision of compliance with the prohibitions established with this decree, for the entire period considered.
Rome, 2 May 2024 The Minister: Salvini
Registered at the Court of Auditors on 9 May 2024
Office for the control of documents of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport and of the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security, n. 1602
